The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs SportsUnited office, in partnership with Roxy, a brand of Quiksilver, is conducting a snowboarding Sports Envoy program in Armenia, March 3-7, 2010. Professional snowboarders and Roxy team riders Amber Stackhouse and Erin Comstock will be the first action sports athletes to be sent abroad as Sports Envoys by SportsUnited.

During their five-day trip, Stackhouse and Comstock will visit Yerevan and Tsaghkadzor. While in Yerevan, the Envoys will meet with middle school students, university film students, and female athletes to discuss the importance of participation in sports for women and girls. In Tsaghkadzor, the Envoys will conduct two snowboard clinics, give a snowboarding exhibition and judge a snowboard cross event.

Amber Stackhouse is the 2003 winner of the American Snowboard Tour in slopestyle (freestyle). Since then, she has consistently honed her skills to gain a reputation as one of the best slopestyle contenders on the circuit. In 2007, she defended her title and was ranked as the #1 boarder on American Snowboard Tour in slopestyle. Outside of snowboarding, Stackhouse is an accomplished film producer who has produced several films, including “Labor of Love” and “Refreshments,” as well as two groundbreaking all-girl snowboarding films, “As If” and “Ro Sham Bo.”

Erin Comstock is a professional snowboarder whose list of accomplishments includes numerous podium wins, including first place in the Abominable Snow Jam (ASJ) slopestyle contest in 2008. Comstock is a six-time participant in the ESPN U.S. Winter X-Games, and is also a familiar face in snowboarding films. Comstock’s list of film credits includes appearances in “As If,” “RoShamBo,” “See What I See,” “I Ride Park City,” “City, Park City,” “Stance” and “LaLaLand.”

Sports Envoys serve as ambassadors for their sport in overseas programs that include drills and team building activities, as well as engaging the youth participants in dialogue on the importance of leadership and respect for diversity.

For more information, please contact Laura Tischler, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, at 202-632-6454 and TischlerLL@state.gov. In Armenia, please contact U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Thomas Mittnacht at +374-1049-4691 and Mittnachtt@state.gov. Starting March 4, you can follow this program through the participants’ blog on the SportsUnited website.